Key players tangle at UNSC at ‘perilous turn’ of US-Israel-Iran conflict

Tensions soar astatine UN arsenic Iran, allies condemn US subject action, portion US, Israel cull censure.

The United Nations Security Council has convened an exigency league pursuing US-led strikes connected Iranian nuclear sites, prompting crisp rebukes from respective subordinate states and renewed calls for a ceasefire successful the Middle East, arsenic allies Israel and the US lauded the attack.

Russia, China and Pakistan person projected a solution demanding an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire”, according to diplomats acquainted with the draught circulated connected Sunday. While the connection does not explicitly sanction the United States oregon Israel, it condemns the attacks connected Iranian atomic facilities. A ballot has not yet been scheduled.

To pass, the solution requires the backing of astatine slightest 9 members and nary vetoes from the 5 imperishable members — the US, UK, France, Russia and China, which makes it a non-starter since the US volition not censure itself.

Speaking to the Council, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the portion stood “on the brink of a deadly downward spiral.”

“The bombing of Iranian atomic facilities by the United States marks a perilous crook successful a portion that is already reeling,” Guterres said. “We present hazard descending into a rathole of retaliation aft retaliation. We indispensable enactment – instantly and decisively – to halt the warring and instrumentality to serious, sustained negotiations connected the Iran atomic programme.”

Acting US ambassador Dorothy Shea defended the subject action, stating that Washington had moved to dismantle Iran’s enrichment capableness successful bid to support some its citizens and allies.

“The clip yet came for the United States, successful defence of its state and our ain interests, to enactment decisively,” Shea told the chamber. “Iran should not escalate… immoderate Iranian attack, nonstop oregon indirect, against Americans oregon American bases volition beryllium met with devastating retaliation.”

Iran’s Ambassador Ali Bahreini said the Israeli and US attacks connected Iran did not travel astir “in a vacuum”, adding that they are the effect of “politically motivated actions” of the US and its European partners.

He said the US “decided to destruct diplomacy” and pointedly made it wide that the Iranian subject volition determine connected the  “timing, quality and scale” of its response.

Meanwhile, Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon said the attacks had made the satellite “a safer place”, rejecting calls for condemnation. “That’s for the Iranian radical to decide, not for us,” helium said erstwhile asked whether Israel supported authorities alteration successful Tehran

China’s ambassador Fu Cong condemned the US strikes and urged restraint. “We telephone for an contiguous ceasefire,” helium said. “China is profoundly acrophobic astir the hazard of the concern getting retired of control.”

Russia’s UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya described the attacks arsenic yet different motion of Washington’s disregard for planetary norms. “The US has opened a Pandora’s box,” helium said. “No 1 knows what catastrophe oregon suffering volition follow.”

Pakistan’s ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad besides condemned the US bombing, calling it profoundly troubling. “The crisp emergence successful tensions and unit arsenic a effect of Israeli aggression and unlawful actions is profoundly disturbing,” helium said. “Pakistan stands successful solidarity with the authorities and brotherly radical of Iran during this challenging time.” This came the time aft Pakistan suggested US President Donald Trump beryllium nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Trump’s announcement that American forces had “obliterated” Iran’s cardinal atomic sites marked the astir important Western subject enactment against Tehran since the 1979 revolution.

The caput of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, told the Council that portion the standard of underground harm remains unclear, interaction craters were disposable astatine the Fordow enrichment site. The entrances to tunnels astatine Isfahan appeared to person been struck, portion Natanz — agelong a people of Israeli sabotage — had been deed again.

Iran has castigated Grossi for being complicit successful paving the mode for Israel and the US to onslaught it.

The United Nations atomic watchdog’s Board of Governors approved a solution declaring Iran was not complying with its committedness to planetary atomic safeguards the time earlier Israel launched its archetypal onslaught connected June 13.

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies